Physics

The Physics Department resides in Gibson House alongside Biology and Chemistry. There are three modern specialist Physics laboratories and a technicians’ prep room. The laboratories are each equipped to a high standard with data projectors, computer facilities and a substantial amount of standard laboratory apparatus to support the intensely practical nature of the Physics courses. The Department has invested heavily in new technology and the boys have access, from a young age, to full class sets of state of the art data-logging apparatus. Every aspect of the more advanced courses is supported by more specialist equipment which can either be used by the boys or to provide whole class demonstrations.

The Science Department takes out a subscription to New Scientist magazine, which is available in the library, and the Physics Department complements this with subscriptions to Physics World, Physics Review and Sky at Night.

I & II Forms

The Science syllabus for I and II Forms covers the needs of our new intake and is in line with the stipulations of the Curriculum for Excellence and the English National Curriculum.

Physics as a distinct subject is taught from the III Form.

III and IV Forms

Boys follow Merchiston’s own Physics curriculum which is broadly based on the English National Curriculum. The course is based around a series of short topics from the whole spectrum of Physics including traditional topics such as light and sound, electrical circuits and energy but also including more current topic areas such as space exploration, detecting exoplanets and superconductivity. The course is primarily practical in approach and all topics aim to develop key skills including practical competency, research skills, how to present scientific ideas and digital literacy. 

Shell & V Forms

The Department delivers Edexcel IGCSE Physics, either as a Separate Science, or through the Double Award route. Single Award offers a very rigorous and ‘traditional’ course that gives the boys a thorough understanding of the subject. Double Award students will study a reduced content course, which still retains much interesting and challenging Physics. Either route offers a solid foundation for A Level. We would recommend those who are confident of their intention to study A Level Physics to pursue the Single Award route.

VI Form

We follow the Edexcel A Level course, which provides a comprehensive, varied and current background in Physics. There is also the option available to pursue Higher Physics in the Upper Sixth year as an alternative to A Level. In addition to the taught course the department also offers extension classes looking at relativity, modern optics and quantum mechanics, a "Maths for Physicists" course for boys not doing A Level Maths and a "Physics Literacy" course to help boys develop the quality of their written responses.

The Physics Department is heavily involved in the British Physics Olympiad and enjoys considerable success at all levels. Boys are encouraged to take the Intermediate Physics Challenge in their Fifth Form year, the Senior Physics Challenge in the Lower Sixth Form and then the Physics Olympiad in their Upper Sixth Form year. In previous years there have been Gold medals achieved at all levels and several boys have been selected to train with, or be part of, the British Physics team.

As part of their activity programme, junior boys can choose to be part of the Science club. This club is run by representatives from each of the three science departments and aims to explore science beyond the normal curriculum. 

The department runs an annual trip to CERN. This is hugely beneficial for our Sixth Form students as it allows them to put their study of Particle Physics into context, as well as exploring the site of arguably the most ambitious scientific experiments of all time.